A method for manufacturing an object having a potential {x} which is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto is provided. The method includes the step of designing a geometric model of the object. A computerized mathematical model of the object is generated by discretizing the geometric model of the object into a plurality of finite elements and defining nodes at boundaries of the elements, wherein values of the field {f} and potential {x} are specified at the nodes. A material property matrix [k] is then calculated based on the relationship {f}=[k] {x}. Material property coefficients are then extracted from the material property matrix [k] for each finite element in the computerized mathematical model and the extracted material property coefficients are compared to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials. Manufacturing parameters corresponding to the matched material property coefficients are then determined. The object is then manufactured in accordance with the determined manufacturing parameters.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for manufacturing an object having a potential {x} that is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto, the method comprising the steps of: generating a computerized mathematical model of the object by discretizing a geometric model of the object into a plurality of finite elements and specifying values for the field {f} and potential {x} relative to the finite elements; calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}; extracting material property coefficients from the material property matrix [k] for each finite element in the computerized mathematical model; comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials; determining manufacturing parameters for controlling composite manufacturing equipment if the matched material property coefficients are material property coefficients for a composite material; and controlling the composite manufacturing equipment in accordance with the determined manufacturing parameters to thereby manufacture the object.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of generating a computerized mathematical model of the object further includes determining the smallest volume increment that can be manufactured using the composite manufacturing equipment.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the field {f} is a mechanical force field and the potential {x} is a displacement.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the field {f} is an electric current field and the potential {x} is a voltage.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the field {f} is a magnetic field and the potential {x} is a magnetic vector potential.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the field {f} is a thermal flux field and the potential {x} is a temperature.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the field {f} is a fluid velocity field and the potential {x} is a fluid potential.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of controlling the composite manufacturing equipment comprises controlling a braider.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of controlling the composite manufacturing equipment comprises controlling tensions applied to fibers used in the braider.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of controlling the composite manufacturing equipment comprises controlling a speed of one or both of a braider bed and mandrel of the braider.
11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of controlling the composite manufacturing equipment comprises controlling a thickness of fibers used in the braider.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of controlling the composite manufacturing equipment comprises controlling a bonding tool.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of controlling the composite manufacturing equipment comprises controlling temperatures and pressures of the bonding tool.
14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of controlling the composite manufacturing equipment comprises controlling the incorporation of fibers in resins.
15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object being manufactured is a prosthetic implant for replacing a body part and the force {f} and displacement {x} are specified based on the in vivo forces applied to the body part to be replaced and the in vivo displacements generated in the body part to be replaced when the forces are applied thereto.
16. An article of manufacture made in accordance with the method of claim 1, wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of an automobile part, an aircraft part, a prosthetic implant, a golf club shaft, a tennis racket, a bicycle frame, and a fishing pole, and wherein different portions of the article have different material properties corresponding to the matched extracted material property coefficients for known materials.
17. A prosthetic implant manufactured in accordance with the method of claim 1.
18. A golf club manufactured in accordance with the method of claim 1.
19. A computer-implemented method for determining machine control instructions for manufacturing an object having a potential {x} that is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto, the method comprising the steps of: generating a computerized mathematical model of the object by discretizing a geometric model of the object into a plurality of finite elements and specifying values of the field {f} and potential {x} relative to the finite elements; calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}; extracting material property coefficients from the material property matrix [k] for each finite element in the computerized mathematical model; comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials; determining manufacturing parameters for controlling composite manufacturing equipment if the matched material property coefficients are material property coefficients for a composite material; and generating machine control instructions for controlling the composite manufacturing equipment in accordance with the manufacturing parameters.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the object being manufactured is a prosthetic implant for replacing a body part and the force {f} and displacement {x} are specified based on the in vivo forces applied to the body part to be replaced and the in vivo displacements generated in the body part to be replaced when the forces are applied thereto.
21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of generating machine control instructions comprises generating machine control instructions for controlling a braider.
22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of generating machine control instructions comprises generating machine control instructions for controlling tensions applied to fibers used in the braider.
23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of generating machine control instructions comprises generating machine control instructions for controlling a speed of one or both of a braider bed and a mandrel of the braider.
24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of generating machine control instructions comprises generating machine control instructions for controlling a thickness of fibers used in the braider.
25. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of generating machine control instructions comprises generating machine control instructions for controlling a bonding tool.
26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the step of generating machine control instructions comprises generating machine control instructions for controlling temperatures and pressures of the bonding tool.
27. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of generating machine control instructions comprises generating machine control instructions for controlling the incorporation of fibers in resins.
28. A computer system programmed to perform the method of claim 19.
29. A control system programmed with machine control instructions for controlling composite manufacturing equipment to manufacture a composite object, wherein the machine control instructions are generated in accordance with the method of claim 19.
30. Composite manufacturing equipment comprising a control system programmed with machine control instructions for controlling the composite manufacturing equipment to manufacture a composite object, wherein the machine control instructions are generated in accordance with the method of claim 19.
31. The composite manufacturing equipment according to claim 30, wherein the composite manufacturing equipment comprises a braider.
32. The composite manufacturing equipment according to claim 30, wherein the composite manufacturing equipment comprises a bonding tool.
33. The composite manufacturing equipment according to claim 30, wherein the composite manufacturing equipment incorporates fibers in resins.
34. A method for manufacturing an object for which a defined field {f} generates a potential {x} in response thereto, the method comprising the steps of: (1) generating a computerized mathematical model of the object by discretizing a geometric model of the object into a plurality of finite elements; (2) specifying values of the field {f} and the potential {x} relative to the finite elements; (3) calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}, wherein the material property matrix [k] comprises a plurality of values each corresponding to one or more material property coefficients; (4) comparing each of the plurality of values in the material property matrix [k] to known material properties and, responsive to a match, selecting a corresponding manufacturing process parameter, wherein the selected manufacturing process parameter is usable for controlling composite manufacturing equipment if the matched known material property is a material property for a composite material; and (5) controlling the composite manufacturing equipment in accordance with the selected manufacturing process parameters to thereby manufacture the object.
35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the object being manufactured is a prosthetic implant for replacing a body part and the force {f} and displacement {x} are specified based on the in vivo forces applied to the body part to be replaced and the in vivo displacements generated in the body part to be replaced when the forces are applied thereto.
36. A system for determining the manufacturing parameters of an object having a potential {x} that is generated in response to a field {f} applied thereto, comprising: generating means for generating a computerized mathematical model of the object by discretizing a geometric model of the object into a plurality of finite elements and specifying values of the field {f} and the potential {x} relative to the finite elements; calculating means for calculating a material property matrix [k] based on the relationship {f}=[k]{x}; extracting means for extracting material property coefficients from the material property matrix [k] for each finite element in said computerized mathematical model; comparing means for comparing the extracted material property coefficients to material property coefficients for known materials to match the extracted material property coefficients to the material property coefficients for known materials; and determining means for determining manufacturing parameters for controlling composite manufacturing equipment if the matched material property coefficients are material property coefficients for a composite material.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
December 18, 1997
July 17, 2001
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.